first church service in decades-- UU minister spoke about Ferguson

[carolinayellowdog]

As far as I recall, the last church service I attended was with my mother, in the 1990s, on Christmas Eve, something I did purely to connect with my hometown and old acquaintances. Having grown up Methodist and gone to a Methodist college, and having a partner who is very active as a Methodist, the VERY LAST THING I want in my life is any church filled with left-right, progressive-conservative warfare and vituperation. That atmosphere (alas, typical of Quakerism in this area, to which I'd otherwise be attracted due to more remote family ties) is even more inhospitable than an outright Bible-thumping fundie church would be. As a gay man I will be damned if I'll stand for my civil rights being someone else's politico-religious battle cry in either direction. Just doesn't feel at all spiritually nourishing.

But I had some fine experiences with Unitarian Universalists back in the 1970s, and just went back this Sunday, largely due to recent immersion in 19thc Unitarian history reminding me that there ARE churches that have always been on the right side of history. Well, there is one at least

And I cannot say enough about what a beautiful, thriving, harmonious, happy experience the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem turned out to be. Minister Lisa Romantum-Schwartz gave the most inspiring sermon I ever heard in my life, and focused a lot on Ferguson, and substituted the planned final hymn with We Shall Overcome.

Any UUs here, or anyone with positive or negative impressions of them? I'm enamored. Never expected to see 250 or more people, and such a joyous atmosphere among liberals in the midst of the NC political debacle now going on.

[Htom Sirveaux]

1. I'm a UU.

And I'm happy you had such a positive experience!

[redstatebluegirl]

2. I am proud to be a UU

I am glad you felt at home there.

[CanonRay]

3. I joined this year along with my wife

after flirting with it in the 70's as well. Great group of free thinking, progressive people and the smartest people I've been around in decades.

[WhiteTara]

4. I've been invited to come to UU

in my little town. Thanks for the encouragement.

[safeinOhio]

5. Love my UU church as

love is what it is all about.
However, almost all of them differ in some way. Mine is a small group that leans to the Humanist side, while some are a little more spiritual or Christ focussed. I Could never find a greater group of people and we have many, many great parties.

We can't answer your questions, but we can question your answers.

You don't have to check your brian at the door.

[carolinayellowdog]

7. as a historian of 19thc American religion, finding a safe space has seemed impossible

On one hand, I'm head over heels in love with the entire spectrum of creative eccentrics who founded new religious movements in 19thc America, from Joseph Smith to Mary Baker Eddy to Madame Blavatsky. On the other hand, I've found with all these and many others, that the "Greatest Spiritual Authority Figure Since Jesus, or Maybe Ever" mindset is so strong that a historian quickly becomes persona non grata the instant s/he says "maybe it didn't happen exactly the way your church/society says it did."

Currently working on a person who has seemed on the fringes of Spiritualism, Theosophy, Christian Science, and New Thought, I've only lately come to the realization that she was right smack in the center of Unitarianism. And since UU people are not hung up on ANYONE being the Most Important Person in History, a historian can feel safe hanging out with them and sharing "warts and all" discoveries with an appreciative group.

The only "Greatest Spiritual Authority" UUs seem to recognize is YOU.

[cbayer]

6. That's wonderful.

There are a number of UU's who post in this group, all of whom are very positive contributors.

Is this a church that your partner would consider going to with you?

Although not UU, this is the kind of congregation I grew up with. You can't find them everywhere, but they are out there for those that look for them.

Thanks for sharing.